In my eyes there is one possible destination for disgruntley Sens winger Dany Heatley…..the NY Rangers.

UPDATED at 12:30pm EST – I will have a long blog on everything that has gone the last 2 days. As much as Heatley is at fault here, Murray really messed up to on a few aspects, again more to come on this angle. Regardless, the Edmonton Oilers possible trade scenario is now dead as the potential is off the table.

UPDATED at Midnight – I waited right up until the deadline for the 4 million dollar bonus and it looks as though Heatley is not going to waive his no-trade clause…….at least not just yet! This guy had better show up in a tank the next time he shows his face in Ottawa. This is incredible. I say let him sit all summer without a deal and make him come to training camp. If he doesn't play this year then no Olympic team for him and we all know how much he wants to play in the 2010 Olympics. More to come on this story in the morning.

UPDATED at 8:25pm EST – Heatley has apparently waived his no-trade clause to go to the Edmonton Oilers. More to come shortly. But it is not official, just waiting on confirmation of players, most likely the deal that was mentioned last night. Chris Neil re-sgins for 4 years/8 million. I don't like this signing at all.

UPDATED at 8:20pm EST – With Marion Gaborik signing with the Rangers, this means that unless Heatley waives his no-trade clause for the Oilers then Murray is really in a jam. As I wrote a few hours ago and others are starting to do the same, many GM's in the league aren't impressed with Murray's tactics last night in releasing the Oilers players names. Murray has one option at this point unless he takes an offer in which a few GM's know they can lowball him. Terrible news for Sens fans. It looks like once again Murray has failed this team as a GM, just as he did last summer in free agency. I know the Sens are looking hard at trying to bring in Brian Gionta and that Martin Havlat is a plan B. Meanwhile, Chris Neil will most likely sign elsewhere. Personally, giving him anything more than what he earned last year is overpaying for a winger on the decline of his career. Back later tonight with one last update on Heatley but as of now Murray has less than 3.5 hours to get something done.

UPDATED at 5:35pm EST – I am told Glen Sather and other GM's that were in the hunt for Heatley are incensed by what Murray did last night in letting out the names of the three Oilers players. Sather won't budge on Staal but the name of Matt Gilroy(trying to get confirmation on spelling of name, but wanted to get it out there) has come up and Murray is high on him. I was also told that if Sather feels he is not in on Heatley that the Rangers will push hard for two former Michigan Wolverines in Mike Komisareck and Mike Cammalleri. The Rangers don't want to be shut out on the big names the first day of free agency.

Here is a quick update on the Heatley trade situation. Heatley realizes that the longer he waits to give Murray a decision on waiving his no-trade clause the more likely he will end up with the Rangers. NY is by far and away Heatley's preference at this point. Besides, the Rangers don't have to send back any big contracts to clear the way for him, so if you are Murray why would you take on the ridiculous contract that the Oilers gave Dustin Penner? There is no need to be on the hook for three more years at 4.2 million per.

I am told the Rangers will do whatever it takes to get Heatley in the fold by the end of the day. Which plays into Murray's hands, he can get a little more for him. I am told that Rangers GM Glen Sather has offered to Murray one of either Callahan or Dubinsky and let me tell you, either of those guys will bring more heart to the ice than Heatley ever did in his 4 years in Ottawa.

More to come.

Kevin

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Written by Kevin Lee
Kevin has had an extensive career as a sports writer and radio show host for almost 10 years. Kevin has covered the NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA College Football and Basketball. From covering the BCS Championship Game to the Final Four and the Stanley Cup Finals, he has done it all. He has been featured on numerous sports radio stations in Canada and the United States and often a weekly guest on numerous XM and Sirius Satellite radio shows. He has also had his work featured on FoxSports.com.

3 Comments

In response to “Heatley deal to Edmonton officially dead and Neil re-signs in Ottawa(updated at 1230pm EST)”

I don't think either one of these players makes up for the loss of Heatley. Look at what Pronger fetched and he pulled the same trick in Edmonton. I would rather do what Ottawa did with Yashin, force him to play until a deal that meets Ottawa's needs arrives. The return Ottawa gained on Yashin justified this strategy, Spezza and Chara for one malcontent. If Healtley returned to Ottawa he will give 100% becuase he wants to leave, something he hasn't done in the last 2 seasons.

Just please keep Heatley away from the Rangers. We don't need him now that we have Gaborik, and quite frankly, I fail to see how adding a malcontent prima-donna who puts in marginal efforts on many evenings will improve the Rangers.He's a one-trick pony, and would drive John Tortorella crazy with his disappearing acts. Plus, with Gomez gone, he couldn't ride anyone's coat-tails like he does with Spezza and Alfredsson…